Citation:
Chung-San Yu, Eric Min-yang Wang, Wen-Chin Li, Graham Braithwaite and Matthew Greaves. Pilots’ visual scan pattern and attention distribution during the pursuit of a dynamic target. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, Volume 87, Number 1, January 2016, pp40-47
Abstract:
Introduction: The current research is investigating pilots’ visual
scan patterns in order to assess attention distribution during
air-to-air manoeuvers. Method: A total of thirty qualified
mission-ready fighter pilots participated in this research. Eye
movement data were collected by a portable head-mounted eye-tracking
device, combined with a jet fighter simulator. To complete the task,
pilots have to search for, pursue, and lock-on a moving target whilst
performing air-to-air tasks. Results: There were significant
differences in pilots’ saccade duration (msec) in three operating
phases including searching (M=241, SD=332), pursuing (M=311, SD=392),
and lock-on (M=191, SD=226). Also, there were significant differences
in pilots’ pupil sizes (pixel2) of which lock-on phase was the largest
(M=27237, SD=6457), followed by pursuing (M=26232, SD=6070), then
searching (M=25858, SD=6137). Furthermore, there were significant
differences between expert and novice pilots on the percentage of
fixation on the HUD, time spent looking outside the cockpit, and the
performance of situational awareness (SA). Discussion: Experienced
pilots have better SA performance and paid more attention to the HUD
but focused less outside the cockpit when compared with novice pilots.
Furthermore, pilots with better SA performance exhibited a smaller
pupil size during the operational phase of lock-on whilst pursuing
a dynamic target. Understanding pilots’ visual scan patterns and
attention distribution are beneficial to the design of interface
displays in the cockpit and in developing human factors training
syllabi to improve safety of flight operations.